Britons Geraint Thomas and Adam Yates saw their hopes of Giro d'Italia victory disappear after a police motorbike caused them to crash on yesterday's ninth stage, which was won by Nairo Quintana.

Welshman Thomas and Spanish team-mate Mikel Landa, who were Team Sky's joint leaders for the Giro, suffered major time losses after the crash inside the final 15km of the 149km stage from Montenero di Bisaccia to Blockhaus.

So too did Yates (Orica-Scott), another with general classification ambitions, as Colombia's Quintana (Movistar) took full advantage with a solo victory.

A police motorbike had pulled to the left side of the road on the approach to the concluding 13.6km ascent of Blockhaus.

The peloton was travelling quickly and spread across the full width of the asphalt and there was nowhere for Wilco Kelderman (Team Sunweb) to go.

He hit the stationary bike and tumbled, wiping out many of the adjacent Team Sky squad, including Thomas and Landa.

Thomas said: "It's ridiculous. That shouldn't happen. We were all racing for the bottom of the climb.

"Next thing I know someone in front of me hits the motorbike, we go down.

"My shoulder popped out (of its socket) as well.

"I felt good, then I crashed. That was it. Race over. It's really disappointing. I'm a bit angry at the minute."

Quintana, the 2014 champion, attacked with Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) and Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) midway up the final climb before accelerating away by himself to take the stage and the leader's pink jersey.